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Arkansas House Delays Vote On Medicaid Expansion

The Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK — The House is delaying its fifth vote on whether to continue Arkansas’ compromise Medicaid expansion.

House leaders on Tuesday scuttled plans for another vote that afternoon on whether to reauthorize the “private option” that was approved last year as an alternative to expanding Medicaid under the federal health care law. Under the private option, Arkansas is using federal Medicaid funds to purchase private insurance for low-income residents.

The program’s future is in doubt after the legislation failed four times before the House last week. The Senate approved the measure on Thursday.

House Speaker Davy Carter had initially vowed to vote every day on the legislation until it passes. Carter has since backed off that stance, saying the House needs to address other issues.